Billboards of nonbelievers turned faithful

Atheists and agnostics were angry to realize someone had defaced billboards they had recently posted around Chico this week. Here, a billboard on the Skyway is shown Wednesday with chunks of the message ripped off. (Bill Husa/Staff Photo)

CHICO — Someone defaced one of a dozen new billboards in Chico this week, turning the message from a secular statement into one of faith.

A dozen billboards with the words "Don't believe in God? Join the club." went up around Chico on Dec. 5 to mark the formal launch of the Butte County Coalition of Reason. By Wednesday morning, someone had defaced the Skyway billboard, ripping off "Don't" and the group's website so it only states "believe in God? Join the club."

"The vandalism of one of our signs clearly demonstrates the hypocrisy of the religionists that they claim to love everyone," said coalition coordinator George Gold. "It's a lie. They only accept you if you believe what they believe."

The billboards simply were intended to notify atheists, agnostics and other like-minded thinkers they are not alone, Gold said. He has received about 50 emails since the billboards went up, and said of those, 96 percent have been "supportive and, in fact, thankful."

"What's the controversy? No one is forcing you to look," he said. "The billboards are not targeted at religionists."

The billboards are part of a national program, and the national United Coalition of Reason provided the $3,780 in funding for the Chico ads. They are scheduled to be up for a month.

The vandalism surprised Leslie Johnson, secretary of the Chico Chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union. Chico is normally a tolerant community, and this defacing is unfortunate, she said.

"It doesn't accomplish anything. It doesn't win any converts to their positions," she said. "What America stands for is freedom of thought and freedom of religion, and I think has to include freedom to be an unbeliever."

Magalia resident Norma Allen paused to question her memory when she spotted the billboard's altered message and was then irritated to realize it had been vandalized.

"I think it's ridiculous that people tear down other people's signs, period," said. "Whether it's a religious group or an atheist group, they have paid for them."

As of Wednesday afternoon, Gold did not know the timeline or cost for repairs, or who was responsible for the expense.

Stott Outdoor Advertising, which operates the billboards, could not be reached for comment.